Nvidia RTX 4090 Founders Edition Review

The MSRPs

Using the average frame rate data presented earlier in the review, here we look at the cost per frame using the UK MSRP launch prices for each GPU.

We'll start our cost per frame analysis by using the MSRP data. Pricing has been highly volatile over the last two years and these prices have been near-unobtainable, but it could be a useful metric for some.

At 1440p, we see the RTX 4090 costs £8.41 for every frame produced, a reduction of 26% against the RTX 3090, and 36% against the RTX 3090 Ti. As expected given the £1699 asking price, however, numerous GPUs are better value for 1440p gaming, including the 6950 XT.

At 4K, the RTX 4090 does better in relative times, now offering a 32% reduction in cost per frame compared to the RTX 3090, while it's not far off 50% cheaper per frame against the RTX 3090 Ti.

Current retail pricing

The MSRP data really doesn't tell the whole story, however, particularly in the high-end segment where prices have been tumbling for months, and we found the RTX 3090 Ti on sale at £1149 – a massive reduction compared to the £1879 MSRP, likewise for the RTX 3090 which is now available for £1080.

This data changes the picture, with the 4090's 1440p cost per frame matching the RTX 3090 Ti almost exactly, which is clearly less impressive.

The 4090 is best suited for 4K gaming and the cost per frame does get better versus the 3090 Ti at that resolution, but it's still only 7% cheaper per frame based on current retail prices.

Become a Patron!